Grottenbier Bruin

Brewed by St. Bernard Brouwerij
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Watou, Belgium

Tasted 2007-03-11. 5 year old bottle, 33cl. The aroma rose out of the bottle, and despite somewhat unpleasant notes of metal and soap, it was quite delightfull. It appeared muddy - dark brown colour. Frothy, off-white head that lasted a couple of minutes. Very complex flavour. I could taste the age in a good way. Unfortunately there was still a hint of metal in the finish, but only in the first couple of sips. Then just pleasure.

Bottled. Dark brown in colour, a minor beige creamy head. The aroma is fruity, dried fruits with a sweet scent to it. The flavour is on the dry side with a rich carbonation that can be felt on the tip of the tongue. There is a fruity taste.

Bottle: Brown clear amber with creamy off white head. Sweet caramel and nut aroma. Awesome sweet candy roasted nut malt with a slightly diffrent than most brown belgiums must be the aging process.

On tap at Flying Pie Boise, Pours out a very dark ruby red topped with a small off white head. Aroma and tast of sweet, caramel, and some yeast. Pretty good.

Pours a ruddy opaque brown with an ample light and light tan head, subsiding slowly. The nose is subtle. Laced with chocolate a rich malty sweetness, and just a touch of that Belgian funk as well as some lactobacillis smelling notes, perhaps more so. The mouthfeel is smooth rich and creamy. The flavors are certainly not disappointing. Creamy and rich malt, slight hints of chocolate, more so caramel malt, though balanced by that yogurty Lactobacillis sort of flavor. A bit fruity, creamy rich finish. There’s a bit of a tartness and fruitiness in the aftertaste. I really enjoyed this beer and would gladly drink more of this. Not a lot of complexity, but man is it nicely formed.

(Bottle) Pours hazy redish brown. Sweet caramell/candy aroma with some (dark) fruits, yeast and notes of spices. Light undertones of cherries, rum/raisins and dark bread/dark malt. Medium sweet, well carbonated but soft mouthfeel. Light caramelly flavour with allmond paste sweetness and earthy undertones. Just a touch of hops and hints of dark bread and spices. Medium body.

(25.4oz bottle): Pours a huge head, light brownish. Active & bubbly. Lasting head, good lacing. Brownish coppery color. Enticing. Sweet aroma, some kind of sweet fruit, ripe green grapes or something light, floweay...can’t name it. Intriguing. Good belgian taste. Flowery taste. Light tasting, refreshing. Not as complex, but tasty.

Pours dark bronze with a soapy thick tan head. The aroma has dark fruits, raisins, earth, yeastiness, lightly toasted malt and cola aspects. Medium bodied that’s lighter than expected with sharp spritzy carbonation. Flavor starts with toasty malt, dark fruits from the aroma - mainly raisins and figs, and a good amount of earthiness. The finish has some hop spice and some astringency. Nice dubbel.